When it comes to baby teeth, we all know that kids get two sets of teeth. The first set of teeth begins to fall off when the child is around six or seven. This is a perfectly natural process and it occurs so that the child’s adult teeth can start to grow. For this to happen, the roots of the baby’s teeth dissolve and wither away, making the tooth loose and eventually fall off.
Here are some reasons why it may not be a good idea to pull the baby teeth before they are ready.
Bleeding and Injury
Until the tooth is loose enough to come out, pulling it out prematurely might lead to bleeding and even injury. In fact, one of the best approaches to baby teeth is to simply let them come out by themselves. This guarantees minimal bleeding and discomfort. If the child’s gums are bleeding, consider gently rinsing with some salty water before consulting a dental specialist.
Infection
Another common danger of pulling baby teeth out prematurely is that it exposes the child to the risk of infection. Children are not always very fastidious about oral health and so having irritated tissue in their mouth or even a wound makes them very susceptible to bacterial infection. Not only would this damage the child’s gums but it may also lead to the growing adult teeth being infected as well.
What To Do Instead
As mentioned earlier, the best way to handle baby teeth is to just let them come off by themselves. If you are worried that this is taking too long, or that the adult teeth may be growing behind the baby teeth, seeing a dentist will help resolve these fears. The dentist will examine your child’s teeth and determine the best course of action. If it involves extracting the baby teeth, you can be sure that the dentist will perform the p[rocedure under sterile conditions and will also take steps to minimize the area getting infected.
Keeping Your Child’s Teeth Healthy
Whether adult or baby teeth, it is critical to ensure that your child has healthy teeth and gums. Infact, following oral hygiene procedures is likely to eliminate most of the problems that you may have with the baby teeth. brushing and flossing will ensure that no cavities develop, which may impact the health of the emerging adult teeth. Proper oral hygiene also demands regular dental exams for your child. This means that your dentist will track the progress of your child’s teeth and ensure that any problems such as ‘shark’s teeth’ are caught and resolved early enough. Dr. Alex Rubinov is an experienced dental practitioner in New York. The practice offers a range of services including teeth whitening, smile makeovers, cosmetic dentistry, and orthodontics, to name but a few. Contact the team at (718) 253-0800 for an appointment.